There is no doubt that a career in the military poses many challenges for families, especially those with young children. In this stellar offering, clinical therapist Lawhorne-Scott, marine corps lieutenant colonel Jeff Scott, and writer Don Philpott give readers a helpful guide to navigating the many demands military families face, such as frequent moves, the loss of friends, deployment, and even the risk of death. The text not only offers a supportive manual to psychological concerns ('what to expect from your children during postdeployment'), but covers such secondary issues as the underemployment of military spouses and dealing with schooling disruptions. Lastly, the book serves as a directory to military services within the context of government benefits (DEERS enrollment, TRICARE health care, and Family Separation Allowances). VERDICT This book should be available to all families who make ongoing sacrifices for our country. Unequivocally recommended.

Library Journal, Starred Review

Forty percent of military personnel are parents—eight percent are single parents—confronting challenges far beyond those typically faced in child rearing. Children in military families must cope with multiple deployments, reintegration, and the threat of combat injuries and death. They may face frequent moves and the accompanying loss of friends and interruptions in schooling. Military life can also present challenges in housing, child care, and unemployment and underemployment of military spouses. The authors present solid information on child services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and other resources, including information on helping children with disabilities and special needs as well as overseas schools and homeschooling. They cover myriad family issues, from taxes and finances to adequate insurance coverage, from counseling for addiction and domestic violence to the secrets of maintaining strong and healthy family relationships. This is a helpful guide aimed at the special challenges of military families.

Booklist

OUTSTANDING!!! This is a book that should be read by all, it covers topics that military members deal with on a daily basis. We have been a military family for over 10 years and some of that was as a dual active duty family, and the topics in this book are "spot on" in dealing with military life. The authors capture the nooks and crannies of the military lifestyle along with the trials and tribulations the entire family endures while defending this great nation.

Adrienne Meelarp, USMC Reserves (Major)

This guide offers a straight forward approach and lays out what every military family needs to know about the vast networks and resources offered throughout the service. It pulls together what took me almost two decades to learn all into one place in a manner that even the newest military family can easily grasp.

Conrad R. Carvajal, GySgt/USMC (Ret.)

Raising Children in the Military is a firsthand example and testament of courage, honor, and growing wisdom in the today’s sometimes challenging and harsh world military families endure. This powerful book guides us through the tender real life challenges military families encounter and provides heartfelt and real life examples of how to navigate the sometimes uncharted and not so easily remedied life of raising a child(ren) in the military. It’s every word rings with truth and is an example of the military and American spirit.

Jordan Michael Hall, BSN, CCM